Final Products
GHC Poster Abstract
This is the abstract of the poster I will be presenting at the Grace Hopper Conference, 2012, in Baltimore, MD:
Navigating Virtual Environments: Re-Directed Driving in a Motorized Wheelchair
Virtual realities are computer-simulated 3D environments that provide visual and auditory information,
often used in conjunction with motion tracking to give feedback for physical motion. Virtual worlds are
mainly used for gaming and training simulators, which require exploration of virtual environments much
larger than the physical space available. This problem is solved with re-direction: a tool used to make
one motion feel like another--for example, subtly rotating a virtual world to make a person walk in
circles when they think they are walking straight. Generally, the less accurate the motion feels, the
harder it is to update position while navigating an environment; however, previous research has proven
that the illusion of motion is more important than actually moving. The present experiments use a
motorized wheelchair to isolate rotational movement and measure navigational efficiency. Initial
results suggest that inaccurate motion (physical motion that does not align with the visual display)
is better than no motion at all.
Final Report
Navigating Virtual Environments: Re-Directed Driving in a Motorized Wheelchair